Hydro turbine gate operating mechanism passes acceptance ​

An acceptance check ceremony for the first gate operating mechanism produced by Harbin Electrical Machinery Co for the world’s first 1,000-megawatt hydro turbine takes place in Harbin on Oct 27. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The first gate operating mechanism produced by Harbin Electrical Machinery Co for the world’s first 1,000-megawatt hydro turbine passed acceptance from China Three Gorges Corporation in Harbin on Oct 27.

Overcoming the manufacturing and integral installation technical barriers marks a big breakthrough for Harbin Electrical Machinery Co, which have leading technologies in the field of hydro power.

The gate operating mechanism of the 1,000MW hydro turbine consists of 7,300 components and parts. It is one of the most critical stressed parts of a pressure turbine. It is 8 meters high and has a maximum diameter of 13 meters after successful installation weighing a total of 830 tons.

The 1,000-mW hydro turbines will be installed at the world’s second largest hydropower station.

Baihetan Hydropower Station, which is on the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze river straddling Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, will be second only to the Three Gorges Dam in terms of total installed capacity when construction is finished.

With installed capacity of 16000 megawatts based on 16 1,000-MW generators, the project is expected to generate more than 60 billion kW hours of electricity per year. Construction of the main section of the hydropower station started on Aug 3, 2017.

Harbin Electrical Machinery Co, a pioneer generator producer founded in 1951, was chosen as the producer of eight 1,000-mW generators and accessories for Baihetan Hydropower Station.

Harbin Electrical Machinery started research into 1,000-mW generators 10 years ago. During that period, the generator producer has overcome several global technical barriers, with its main achievements including solving the problems of generator stability, electromagnetism, insulation technology and damage from fatigue. This work helped the producer to win 49 domestic patent licenses, of which, 16 were patents for inventions.

Currently, Harbin Electrical Machinery’s generator technologies are among the most advanced on the market.